Further particulars and Job description
Job Title
Sous Chef
Department
Catering
Grade
n/a
Reports to
The Head Chef
Coordination with
Kitchen, Buttery, SCR and College Staff
Responsible for (staff)
The kitchen Team in Head Chef’s absence
Location
The Queen’s College, Oxford
The College and the Role
Founded in 1341, Queen’s is one of the oldest constituent Colleges in the University of Oxford. Its membership comprises around 330 undergraduates, 160 graduates, and around 45 Fellows. The Provost is head of the College, and serves as Chair of the Governing Body.
In addition to rooms for students and Fellows, the College maintains extensive library facilities, seminar and meeting rooms, music rooms, common rooms, and many other facilities to support its academic and cultural life. The past decade has witnessed a very substantial programme of refurbishment and construction, including the building of a new kitchen and a new auditorium on the main site, and a new underground extension to the Library.
Alongside the Head Chef, the Sous Chef is responsible for ensuring the proper management of the kitchen, filling in for the Head Chef when he is not present. The College kitchen provides excellent everyday meals for students, staff and Fellows, as well as executing formal, fine-dining events which include prominent guests. The calendar has a number of gaudies, which are celebratory feasts, often incorporating specific culinary traditions, frequently attended by old members (former students) of the College.
The kitchen supplies hot and cold food for around 275 diners through the Servery at lunch and approximately 150 students each evening in term time. Summer schools, conference catering, and private dinners are also provided throughout the year, in a number of locations throughout the College, and the standards of production and presentation are high.
The Sous Chef provides essential support to the Head Chef in supervising and managing the kitchen staff and daily kitchen activities. They work in close cooperation with the Catering Manager and the SCR Team. The Sous Chef is critical in ensuring meal quality and consistency, and the appointed candidate will have a passion for food, be an expert in its preparation and presentation, and have a broad knowledge of diverse culinary trends and techniques.
Further information on the College can be found on its website at www.queens.ox.ac.uk.
Main duties and responsibilities;
The following duties are not shown in order of priority or frequency, nor is the list exhaustive, but rather an indication of the type and level of duties expected of the post-holder.
Attend all training designated by the College
Structure and Purpose of the Role
The Sous Chef assists and, when required, stands in for the Head Chef in the College kitchen. Following the Head Chef’s guidance, the Sous Chef plays a critical role in delivering exceptionally high-quality preparation and presentation of food for students, staff, conference guests and visitors to the College.
The Brigade de Cuisine at the College consists of:
Person
Key characteristics, abilities and experience crucial to fulfilling the responsibilities of this role are:
The Sous Chef must be capable of suggesting creative ideas and helping to improve the performance of the kitchen brigade. Guided by the Head Chef, the Sous Chef will have a high degree of influence over the output of the kitchen and must have the skills, knowledge and enthusiasm to train and inspire other chefs. The candidate will share a desire to evolve towards more sustainable food practices, and an aspiration to be the best in Oxford.
Qualifications
Essential
Desirable
Good standard of general education
Fluency and accuracy in written and spoken English
Good level of numeracy
X
Recognised professional qualification such as:
a degree in culinary arts or equivalent
city & Guilds diplomas in professional cookery
BTEC HND in professional cookery
Basic hygiene level 2
Intermediate food hygiene level 3
Recognised health and safety and first aid qualifications
Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK (information to confirm status will be requested at interview)
Experience and knowledge
A good degree of competency in computer skills – including various proprietary systems, e.g. online ordering, as well as:
· Word
· Email
· Excel
Significant experience as a senior chef working in a busy catering operation, with fine dining and the highest standards of food production and hygiene
Experience in the procedures for cost control, stock rotation and storage and ensuring maintenance and other contractual obligations are met
Sound knowledge of current legislation relating to food hygiene, H&S, HACCP, allergen control plan, and undertaking all due diligence to assure food safety, ensuring a safe working environment for staff and for College Members; high level of personal hygiene
Experience of preparing food in a similar higher education (HE) institution or college, school or educational environment
Experience of working in a similar busy and historic organisation with a fine dining tradition
Good experience of sustainable food practices and plant-based cooking
Demonstrate an appreciation of the College’s intellectual values,
ambitions, and academic purposes
Attributes and Skills
Self-motivated, pro-active, and able to use own initiative
Reliable, respectful and confident; friendly and personable when communicating with others
Ability to work quickly and effectively under pressure while maintaining attention to detail
Ability to support a learning culture throughout the catering department, support customer service initiatives, and promote this culture in working with other departments
Ability to lead effectively, demonstrates ability to take on new tasks and procedures; manage the day-to-day activities of the kitchen and assess the skills and behaviour of junior members of the brigade
Ability to foster good working relationships, assisting the Head Chef, Catering Manager, and SCR Team in their roles
Adaptable and able to prioritise and undertake tasks in a logical and methodical manner; the good health to manage a variable and physical workload, and to work, where necessary, long hours under pressure
SUMMARY OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Full terms and conditions of employment will be provided in writing to the successful candidate. The information below is for guidance only and does not constitute the contract of employment.
Salary
The salary is £40,000 per annum.
Contract /Duration
This is a permanent, full-time post. Ideally the successful candidate will start no later than March 2025.
Hours of Work
Staff at this level are expected to work such hours as are, on average, reasonably needed to fulfil the duties of their posts. In practice this will normally mean not less than 37.5 hours per week spread over five working days, which will include evenings and weekends. Significant flexibility in work patterns will be needed when the requirements of the role demand this – such as special events.
Probationary and notice periods
The post is subject to six-month probationary period. The appointment may be terminated by either side giving one week’s written notice during the first six months, and one month thereafter.
Benefits include
HOW TO APPLY
Click ‘Apply online’ at the foot of this web page and complete the application form - which must include the contact details of two referees - and the Supporting Statement section stating why you are interested in the post and how your qualifications and experience match our essential and desired requirements. Please study the job description and person specification and explain what skills and personal qualities you would bring to the College, how they relate to the post you have applied for and demonstrate your ability to undertake the duties of the post.
The appointment will be subject to proof of the right to work in the UK, acceptable references, proof of any required qualifications and the satisfactory completion of a medical questionnaire.
Any enquiries about the application process should be emailed to hr@queens.ox.ac.uk
The deadline for the receipt of applications is midnight on Tuesday 11th February 2025.
Interviews
We aim to hold interviews in the week commencing 17th February 2025.
Data protectionAll data supplied by applicants will be used only for the purposes of determining their suitability for the post and will be held in accordance with the principles of the General Data Protection Regulation 2016.
Privacy Policy
The College Privacy Policy can be viewed here:
https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/sites/www.queens.ox.ac.uk/files/Applicants-for-office.pdf
All data supplied to us during the application process will be processed and stored in accordance with this policy.
Diversity and Equal Opportunity at Queen’s College
The Queen’s College is an equal opportunities employer and a living wage employer.
Entry into employment with the College and progression within employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of criteria which are related to the duties of each particular post and the relevant salary structure. In all cases, ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration. No applicant or member of staff shall be discriminated against because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
Applications are particularly welcome from underrepresented groups. We are committed to the principles of equal opportunities and respect for individuals in creating and maintaining an inclusive environment that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We value and celebrate diversity and feel that is critical to achieving our strategic aims and long-term success. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. For more information, visit https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/equality-information
The College also shares the university’s commitment ‘to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes equality, values diversity and maintains a working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all its staff and students are respected.’ The university’s full policy is available at https://edu.admin.ox.ac.uk/equality-policy
The College invites all applicants to familiarise themselves with its equal opportunities policy, available at
https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Equal-Opportunities-Policy-May-2020.pdf